Bottle-stopper



H. O. JOHNSON. Bottle Stopper.

No. 232,404. Pate'nted Sept.'2l ,1880.

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A O t L v flaw/"ii (2% N. PETERS PHOTO-LTHGGRAPHER, WASHRIGTONv D C. I

Unrrn Tara s Fries.

ATENT BOTTLE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,404, datedSeptember 21, 1880. Application filed October 21, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY G. JoHNsoN, of.

Meadville, county of Crawford, and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Stoppers, of

bottle having a stopper applied thereto in accordance with my invention,and Fig. 2 represents, in section, three forms which may be given theplugs, stoppers, or gates. Fig. 3is a sectional view of the neck ofabottle, showing the end closed orsealed and the stopper in place. Fig.4 is a perspective view, illustrating the mode of applying a rubber bandto serve as a spring in retaining the stopper within its seat and inclosed position. Fig. 5 is an axial section, illustrating the mode ofdischarging the contents through the stopper at a right angle to thebottleneck.

Like letters in all the figures indicate corre sponding parts.

The object of my invention. is to provide a simple and cheap stopper forbottles, which shall be efficient for the purpose of allowing liquid,and which shall dispense with the use of rubber corks and theiraccompanying wire fastenings, such as are now commonly used.

My invention relates to a bottle provided with an apertured stopperfitted transversely in the neck and adapted to turn therein.

My improvements particularly consist, first, in combining with suchrotatable apertured stopper an annular gum spring or band, so applied asto permit the ready removal of the stopper when required, also tendingto keep the stopper closed and to close it when opened and released 5and, secondly, in combining a bottle having through it a continuouspassage and a transverse aperture with arotat-ablestopper contained inthe transverse aperture, and having a passage connecting with the usualneck-passage, and extending thence in a direction to discharge thecontents in a direction at a right angle to and through the bottle-neck.

A is the neck of the bottle, made a little thicker than ordinarily, andperforated substantially at right angles to its axis. This perforationforms the seat for the plug B, which is preferably made slightlytapering, as are ordinary faucet-plugs, the better to retain aperfectly-tight joint to prevent escape of liquid. The plug B may, asindicated in Fig. 2, be constructed in a variety of ways. It may havethe single opening I), which permits the liquid to flow out at month awhen. turned in the proper direction, the solid portions preventing anyescape when properly closed.

"A central axial perforation, 0, may unite with another partial opening,01, or an inclined groove, 0, may be provided in one side of the plug,the operation of which will be to allow flow of liquid through the plug,as is easily understood.

So far as the principal feature of theinvention is concerned, it isobvious that the form or particular construction of the plug is notessential to its operation, and that any suitable construction may beadopted.

The mouth of the bottle may be closed, if

desired, as indicated in Fig. 3, in which event the escape of liquidwill necessarily take place through the plug.

The thumb-piece connected with the plugis preferably so constructed asnot to project beyond the body of the bottle, by which construction theliability to accident is very much diminished. When the joints areproperly finished it is not believed that any ordinary accident willdisplace the plug; but in order to insure its stability the plug may besecured in a variety of ways. As in Fig. 1, a rubber or other elasticband, f, is made to surround the neck of the bottle and to constantlypress the plug against its conical seat. Should any pressure displacethe plug, the band will instantly return it to its proper position, andthis band is preferred to any other means of securing the plug, becauseit can be so readily "applied, and will in no manner interfere with Thecross=perforation will in no way interfere with the filling of thebottle, and in case may of loss or accident to the stopper the bottle beclosed by use of an ordinary cork. There need be'no difficulty indrilling or otherwise forming the desired cross-perforation. It ispreferred that the joint between the stopper and its seat be ground; butthis is not essential. If it be desired to drill the seat for thestopper, it is only necessary to scratch the glass (or other vitreousmaterial of the bottle) slightly, and to moisten the metallic drill withspirits of turpentine. The operation may then be very easily and quicklyaccomplished.

The device may be applied to very many of the bottles now in common use,the necks of which are reasonably thick and sufficiently strong toafford the desired seat for the plug. The device, though of universalapplication in connection with bottles, is more especially intended forthose containing beer, wine, 850., from which a gas naturally arises andproduces an internal pressure. The stopper being located transversely tothe neck of the bottle,rit is apparent that no pressure from within willtend to unseat the plug, and by reason of this the expensive andtroublesome wiring of the corks may be dispensed with, while at the sametime the bottle may be most conveniently uncorked, and its contentswithdrawn.

1 am aware that stoppers in the shape of faucets have before beenapplied to bottles, as

instanccd in many forms of effervescent-water bottles; but in allpreviously-existing forms of which I am aware the faucet is locatedwithin a cork, which is secured within the ordinary mouth of the bottleand exposed to the direct action of the internal pressure, necessitatingthe construction of a complete faucet and the adoption of means moreorless expensive for holding the cork in proper place.

I am aware that bottles have before been provided with faucet stoppersor plugs, and that such a plug has been held to its seat by a spiralspring and a screw-nut, after the inanner of a common faucet. Itherefore do not broadly claim providing a bottle-neck with afaucet-plug held to its seat by a spring.

My invention differs from the above in that I dispense with ascrew-thread on the plug, and with a nut, washer, and spiral spring, andby the aid of a notch in the head of my plug am enabled to use a simpleand inexpensive gum spring, which, while performing all the necessaryfunctions of the combined screwnut, washer, and metallic spring,possesses the additional advantages of ready detachment and applicationin case it is desired to remove and replace the stopper, and may be madeto perform the novel function of holding the plug shut and automaticallyturning it back to its closed position'after it has been opened. 7

To'these old forms I desire it understood that I make no claim but,

Having now fully described my invention, what I do claim as I new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bottle-neck having a continuous passage through it which is open atits ends and is apertured transversely, in combination with therotatable stopper detachably secured in the transverse aperture of thebottle-neck, and having a passage communicating with the neck-passage,and extending thence ina direction to discharge the contents at a rightangle to and through the bottle-neck.

2. The combination of the bottle A, transverse rotatable apertured plugB, constructed with a notched head,and the elastic retainingband f,encircling the neck and engaging-in the notch of the plug B to retainthe latter within its seat, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim, the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presenceof two witnesses.

HENRY G. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. LocKWooD, BASIL M. BRODIE.

